Michael B. “Mickey” Dowdy, chief development officer of the Medical Campus at Virginia Commonwealth University, has been named vice chancellor for university advancement at East Carolina University.

Dowdy

Dowdy, who also serves as president of the Medical Foundation at VCU, will join ECU on June 26. He was selected after a national search and will oversee ECU’s fund raising and alumni activities.

Chancellor Steve Ballard said, “I am delighted that Mickey Dowdy has agreed to join us at ECU. He brings more than 25 years of experience and a consistent record of accomplishment in leading higher education advancement programs. He is well-known in the nation, a great fit with our programs, and, most importantly, a real leader.”

Dowdy said, “I am excited about becoming a member of the East Carolina family. I have seen the rising impact of philanthropy at other institutions and I look forward to being part of the team that will accomplish the same things at ECU.”

Dowdy earned a B.A. in psychology and sociology from the University of Richmond and an M.B.A. from the University of Mary Washington.

Before joining VCU in 1993, he held positions in development and alumni affairs at Mary Washington and Richmond.

He succeeds Bill Shelton, who moved to the College of Education last summer to work with a program designed to train future community college leaders.

Marilyn Sheerer, dean of the College of Education, has served as interim vice chancellor for advancement since June.